By Gloria Drealomalicha
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned that while the creation of state police could significantly strengthen the country’s security architecture, poor planning and implementation could create even greater problems.
Speaking during an Arise TV Town Hall meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the minister described state policing as a potentially transformative solution to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity but cautioned that it must be introduced with careful planning and strict safeguards.
“State police is a good thing. If well harnessed, planned and executed, it could be the silver bullet that we need. But again, if not well executed, it could turn out to be the Hiroshima that we are afraid of,” he said.
The minister stressed that any state police system must remain professional and impartial, warning against allowing it to become a tool for ethnic, religious or political interests.
According to him, state police should serve every citizen equally and must never be controlled by ethnic groups, religious affiliations or influential elites.
“State police should not be ethnic-based, it must not be religion-based, and it must not be for the elite,” he added.
To minimise potential risks, the minister proposed a gradual rollout of the initiative, suggesting that implementation should begin in state capitals before extending to other parts of the country. He explained that a phased approach would enable authorities to identify operational challenges and make necessary adjustments before nationwide expansion.
Beyond security reforms, the minister called on Nigerians to play a more active role in nation-building, insisting that meaningful change requires both government action and individual responsibility.
“Most Nigerians want change, but they want somebody to change and not themselves. Every Nigerian must be the change that we so much desire,” he said.
He acknowledged that Nigeria continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges, including ethnic divisions, religious tensions and the influence of vested interests. Despite these obstacles, he commended the Nigeria Police Force for continuing to carry out its duties under difficult conditions.
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